Gambell, Berneta A. (1912-2011)

GAMBELL, GAARDE, CHURCHILL, BUCKLEY, SORENSEN, SHEFFLER, WACHTLER, KOPISCHKE, FRAZIER, SMITH, OPSAL, DEROUCHEY

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 7/31/2011 at 14:49:18

Berneta A. Gambell
August 25, 1912 - July 7, 2011

FOREST CITY - Berneta A. Gambell, 98, of Forest City, died Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Berneta Amanda Gaarde Gambell was born at home in Halfa, Iowa, on August 25, 1912, the daughter of Peter and Myna (Churchill) Gaarde. She was baptized in the Danish Lutheran Church in Ringstead, Iowa. When she was three, the family moved to Armstrong, Iowa, where she graduated from high school in 1931. She played basketball and loved to dance. Berneta attended Waldorf College and graduated in 1933 with a teacher's certificate and taught a few years in Swea City, Iowa. She met her husband, Doland Keith Gambell, at Waldorf College. They were married in Armstrong at her parents' home on May 29, 1938. The couple then made their home in Forest City. They celebrated sixty-two years of marriage, enjoyed camping, and spent twenty winters in Texas with their travel trailers.

Berneta was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Sarah Circle, the Prayer Shawl Committee, and WELCA. She also volunteered at the church. She was a member of the Forest City Art Club and the Kum Along Club where she enjoyed visiting with friends at meals, card parties, and various gatherings. She was an honorary member of the Forest City Firemen since Doland had served many years with the department. She was so proud to attend their annual meetings, dinners and soup suppers. An avid crafter for years, crocheting was her favorite hobby. She made hundreds of hats and mittens for the Forest City Schools, the Sioux City Schools, and the Omaha Schools. She also made many sweaters for WELCA baby kits for the missions and many prayers shawls. Prayer was her mission, and she prayed for family and friends alike and wrote letters to old friends to keep in touch. She was a Twins fan, loved to watch bowling and basketball on TV, and read a lot, especially her Bible.

She is survived by four children, Judith (Wayne) Buckley, of Omaha, Nebraska, John (Janet) Gambell, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kathryn (Paul) Sorensen, of Forest City, and Charles (Sally) Gambell, of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Kristi Buckley Sheffler, Tom Buckley, David Buckley, Kathryn Buckley Wachtler, Amanda Sorensen Kopischke, Susan Gambell Frazier, Anthony Gambell, Elizabeth Sorensen Smith, Nicole Gambell Opsal and Kathleen Gambell DeRouchey; fourteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Earl Gaarde, of Modesto, California; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Doland, in 2000.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Burial will be at Madison Township Cemetery in rural Forest City.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Sunday at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark Street, Forest City, and will continue an hour prior to services at the church.

Copyright © 2011, Petersen Lund Funeral Home

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